Breguet 693
Breguet · France · first flew 1939 · bomber
The Breguet 693 was a fast twin-engine attack aircraft developed for the Armée de l'Air in the late 1930s, intended to strike enemy armoured columns at low level with bombs and cannon. It proved effective but suffered devastating losses in May–June 1940 flying suicidal daylight missions against German Panzer divisions.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.67 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Compact twin-engine French ground-attack bomber with a distinctive bubble-glazed nose
- Mid-wing monoplane with Gnome-Rhône radial engines in neatly cowled nacelles
- Used in low-level anti-armour attacks against German columns in May–June 1940, suffering severe losses
Compact and purposeful in appearance, with twin radial engines, a mid-set tapered wing, a prominent fully glazed nose for the observer, and a slim but deep fuselage; closely resembles the Potez 63 family in general configuration.
Specifications
- The Breguet 693 has a length of 9.67 m (32 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 15.37 m (50 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 490 km/h (304 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Evolved from the Breguet 690 twin-seat fighter prototype, the 693 and 695 variants were optimised for ground attack and light bombing. The first 693s reached units in April 1940 and were committed immediately to the Battle of France, flying extremely dangerous low-level strikes. Entire formations were lost in a single day.
Variants
The Breguet 691 was the two-seat fighter prototype; the 693 used Gnome-Rhône 14M engines while the 695 used Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasps; around 224 of all variants were built.
Where you'll see it
Served with Armée de l'Air assault groups (groupes d'assaut) in May–June 1940; surviving aircraft passed to Vichy French forces and a small number to Italian units.
Related aircraft
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